That song is stuck in my head!!! “Love Is My Religion” by Ziggy Marley. So simple yet so meaningful. As I was driving home from teaching yoga, I started thinking about my own journey with religion and spirituality. I was reminded of my first yoga instructor and his peaceful demeanor. I never really knew what his religious and/or spiritual beliefs were but I knew he followed an enlightened path. Today I believe it was a reflection of his yoga practice. Not just the physical practice of yoga (asana) but all aspects or limbs of yoga.
I’ve been asked more than once if yoga is a religion---and the answer is no. It is a philosophy. It began in India approximately 5,000 years ago. A spiritual sage named Patanjali wrote the Yoga Sutras; which is widely regarded as the authoritative text on yoga. It is a guideline for living a meaningful and purposeful life. The sutras (which means “threads” in Sanskrit) provide a framework for spiritual growth and mastery over the physical and mental body.
Yoga is a mind, body, and spirit practice, whether you are or are not religious or spiritual, you can practice the wonderful and ancient gift of yoga.